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R.. DJ :n 2 V. O N D E DW nnE -AN ZF. TBR Nun..V ACW DHHQ AuhnW`-| ENSLY2 .TIR H LLA MMM SD E IL F N v T A c L DI DI A lllIllIlIIlI/Ill a ELucm/tog I S511 hi@ Gimme I y l f l, A //I H. F. KRANTZ. SAFETYswiTcHoARD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR` 22. 1916. RENEWED NOV. 25, |918. 1,306,344,PatentedJune 10, 1919.

. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f f iff,

o lv .om A M a FIGA.

H. F. KRANTZ.

SAFETY SWITCHBORD.

APPLICATION FILED NAR. 22, I9I6. RENEwEu nov. 25. 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

] www1/to@ Patented J une 10, 1919 Hue@ 1G. 114'0 ttozmu UniTED sTATEsPATENT oEEicE.

F. KRANTZ, OF'BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO KRAN TZ MANUFACTUR- GCE'PAN'Y, INC., OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,

CORPORATION 0F NEW' YORK.

SAFETY-SWITCHBOARD.

nsocii.

.To @ZZ whom t may concern Be it known that I, HUBERT F. KRANTZ, acitizen of the United States, and residing at Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, hr ve invented ya new and ImprovedSafety-Switchboard, of which the following specificationo's a fulldisclosure.

rIhis invention deals with switch-mechanisms-more especially of the typeknown as switch boards, and its primary purpose is to enhance thesafetyv thereof, and thereby reduce in number accidents the use ofelectrical circuits.

One object is to provide an upstanding switchboard which` is thoroughlyprotected both front and lrear whereby persons will not accidentallycome in contact with live parts and thereby get 'a seveie kshockloyproviding` covers at the rear side and estabvlishing a connectionbetween the covers and the operating features, such that access will notbe had to the lfuses when the switches are in closed circuit position.`

A further object is toprovide a switch boardin which bus bars and switchmechanisms are'arranged at the same side of the board, and in whichguard means is .arranged to cover and protect substantially -allportions of the bus bars except at those restricted points where theswitch mech-- anisms make their electrical connection.

"'A ,further object is to provide barrier means disposed between thecovers and the live parts of the deyice arranged so as to shield alllive parts within when the covers are open.

A further object is to so arrange the parts of the device that theseveral covers referred to each guard and protect a given compartment orsection of the whole 'switch board structure. A

A 'further object is to provide a board in which continuous bus barstraverse all of the compartments or sections, and to arrange theswitctnmechanisms in the' respective compartments so as to makeelectrical connection with the portions of the bus bars which traversethe respective compartments.

A further object is to provide guard means associated with therespective com-' partments'so as to cover and conceal the incident alto- I to comprehend specificanonbf Letters Patent. -ffpatented June 10,191,9, appiieatioaied March 22, i916, seriai No. 85,853. i

RenewedNovemberZ, `1918. Serial No. 264,128.

traversingbus bars except at a restricted point vwhere the switchmechanism of the compartment makes its electrical connection.

A further object is to provide means wherebyA to safely support thebranch line conductors which extend into the respective compartments. y

Another object is to effect a general simpliiication of the switch board`whereby the fuse-holders will be most accessible without compelling thehands to come'near live conductors and whereby the other elements, such.as the switch-blades, the bus-bars and the branch-line conductors, willbe located out of ordinary reach.

A further object is to adapt the barrier referred to so as to carry thefuses and so as to support-branch line contacts in proper coperativerelationto the moving elements of the switch Amechanism.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and inpart indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of thisinvention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features -of construction,combination of parts, `and in the unique relations of the members and inthe relative proportioning and vdisposition thereof; all as morecompletely outlined herein.l

To enable others skilled in the art so fully thereof that they mayembody'the same by the numerous .modifications in structure' andrelation contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferredform have been annexed as a part of this disclosure, and in suchdrawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding partsthroughoutall the views of which AFigure l is an enlarged fragmentarysection sliowing'one of .the switches of the upper tier or compartmentiii open circuit posi- -tion and showing a similar switch of the lowertier or compartment in closed circuit position. Fig. 2 is a' reducedsection similar ,to that of Fig. l Ibut showing in addition theprotecting elements at the rear of the switchlboard and the connectionsbetween the iame and the device for actuating the vswitch blades.

the underlying features -the plane of line 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the switch board, parts beingbroken awa'v and shown in section in order to better disclose thestructural arrangement.

Continuing now by way of a more detailed description, in thisembodiment, A indicates the main base-board which may be formed ofornamental insulating material, such as marble er slate, and which inthis instance is shownV to stand in a vertical position. On its frontface it carries the various operating handles, and at its rear face arelocated the Working elements and connections. This board is designed onthe unit principle; that is to say, it provides a number of independentsections or compartments arranged in tiers each having one or moreoperating handles, and each controlling one or more braneh-liiiecircuits, as the casje may be. Since these parts are symmetricallyarranged throughout it will s utlice to describe one.

At some distance from what will be called the-rear face ofthe base-boardis arranged a shelf or strip ot' insulating material B,v

preferably having a narrow elongated form and arranged substantiallyvparallelwith the base-#board A'. The rear face ot this niember isutilizedfor carrying the fuse-holders or clips c and c, which may haveany conventional form so as to receive conventional fuses such as C;Infthis instance tlie'clips c and@1 extend from the branch-lineterminals ld, 2d and 3 on the one handaiid'the contact element lc on theother hand. The

contact'elements lc are each in the forni of a strip of copper which isbent to extend through the member B and forwardly toward the base-boardA. Each terminates some distance from'the base board so as to le, 2eande, which at their ends are con` nected to the various branch-linefuse clip terminals 1d, 2d and 3d. j

Horizontally arranged partition or wall members, as H and I, projectoutwardly from the rear face of the base board at later be more fullydescribed.

spaced points in the height et the base board so as to divide the rearsurf-ace ot' the board into a plurality of superposed compartmentswithin eachot' which is arranged one ot the members B with its fuseclips, branch line 70 wires, and other associated parts which will Therear opening of each compartment is guarded by' an independent door J.

The bus bars, as l, 2y and 3 extend ver- 75 tically along the lrearsurt'ace. of the base board A and thus traverse cach ot' the: severalsuperposed compartments, .These bus bars are spaced apart insubstantiallyv parallel relation and in each compartment one S0 Contactelement 1 is provided for each bus bar, these contact elements beingsubstan- -tiallyaliined lwith the respective bus bars and being inconnection vwith the t'use clips and branch line terminals as abovedescribed.

In order-'to further protect the bus-bars against being. accidentallycontacted, plates or guard members E of insulating material are alsoprovided. These guard members 9o are arranged one within eachl of theconi.- partments, so as to cover and conceal the bus bars throughout'except at restricted points where vportions of thc guard niembers areomitted sufficient to enable electrical plete electrical communicationbetween the bus bars and the respective `adjacentcontact velements lc aswill now be described z- A switch blade carrier F is pivotally supportedat its ends by brahckets 5 and 5a.' and it has clamped thereto in spacedrelation the.

blades lb, 2b, 3b, etc. Each brush consists ot a number of laminae andis bent .near cach end, as shown more clearly by Fig. l so as to producebeveled extrein'ities which may swing directly into contact with thebranclr Y110 .hne' contact elements 1c and the contact elements l whichare connected with the bus bars. The carrier is arranged to be .rocked.bakand forth so as to nioventlie switchpositions,

blades into open and closed circuit and' the operating n'iechanismtherefor consists of an arm 6 extending from the carrier, which arm isin turn actuated hy a .toggle formed of the links 7 and 8; the link 'Tbeing connected thereto b v means otl the pivots 9 and l0, and the link8 being arranged to' rock about the tixed pivot 1l secured to thebracket 5. The latter bracket in turn is provided with a slot 12, theupper end ot' which constitutes a stop 13 for limiting movement oiu 125the toggle in one direction; and the lower end of which constitutes astop li for liniitiiig movement of the toggle in the opposite directionenabling the spring l5 to hold the switch-blades in the intermediateposition shown by Fig. 2 wheneverthe toggle is broken. The-link 8 of thetoggle is in the form of a small bell-crank and carries at the" end ofits free arm a pin 23.l

For the purpose of making and breaking the'toggle a link 16v has a slot17 elongated so 'as to provide for lost motion and this` link extendsforwardly through an opening y18 in the base-board, and is pivoted at 19to the arm 20 of a hand lever G, which in turn is pivoted at 21 in asuitable bracket 22arranged at the front face of the baseboardA. Byswinging the lever G upwardly, the pin 23 ofthe bell-crank lever 8 isengaged by the rear end wall of the slot 17 and this causes the lever toturn so as to erect the toggle and Iforce the switchblade into closedcircuit position, as at the bottom of Fig. 1. Now, if the handle Gr beswung downwardly, the other end of theA slot 1'? will be brought againstthe pin 23 .and will break the Atoggle and enable the arranged betweeneach cover J and the ad- I jacent switch-mechanism, or any operatingelement thereof, whereby it will not be possible for the 4switch bladesto stand in closed circuit position while the cover is open.

In this embodiment, this connection takes the form of a link K which ispivotally connected by its forward end to the pin 23, and which carriesa pin 27 at its rear end. The pin 27. rides in an elongated slot 28which is formed in a part 29 'carried by the cover. This slot 28provides sufficient lost motion so that the switch may be freely openedand closed so long as the coveris closed. When the switch is in closedcircuit position then the lost motion is-taken up. An opening movementof the cover then willthrow the switch automatically into open positionand render all the parts safe.

It is to be particularly noted that the members B are arranged withinthe respective compartments so as to divide the compartment into aforward chamber and a rear chamber. The/'orward chamber contains theswitch contacts, switch blades, bus bars, branch-line wires and otherlive parts of the device, while the rear chamber contains only the fuseclips and fuses. The rear chamber may be reached by opening the coverbut the member B constitutes a barrier or wall shutting olf access tothe forward chamber.

Since the door may not be open except while the switch is off, then thefuse clips are necessarily dead whenever the door is open and the fusesmay therefore, be in sertcd or removed at will without danger. At suchtimes the barrier B serves as an efficient means to prevent the operatorfrom coming accidentally into engagement with any of the live parts orwith the bus bars. Owing to the presence of the guard member E a wire ortool accidentally inserted past the barrier B even would not be likelyto en! gage the bus bars.

The position of the branch line wires behind the barrier B affords adesirable'protectionto said branch wires at all times.

By this construction the entire rear of the panel is protected andaccidents are rendered practically impossible. The branchline cables areinsulated and extend down along the sides of the board tothe end edgesof the shelves D, D1,.D2, etc., and thence along said shelves. All ofthese parts are, of course, dead when the main switch is open. On theother hand, the only live part in such circumstances is the extension 1,which is quite inaccessible and is blocked by the switch itself.

The positive and negative of the threewire bus vbars are connected withthe bus bars lX and 3X by means of connector strips 1W and 3W.

. Although the drawing illustrates a set of three-wire bus ba'rs and aset of two-wire bus bars, it will bc understood this is merely forillustrative purposes and that two-wire bus bars or three-wire bus barsmay be used in either set, as desired, or even that one set may be usedalone and the other be entirely omitted.

The main line wires may be connected to the bus bars at any,appropriatepoint, as for instance at the points m, y and 2, in Fig. 5.

Iuorder to illustrate the compartment form,.\tion ofthe switch-boardstructure Fig, 5 has been drawn to show four compartments. It will beunderstood, however, that any desired number of compartments may bearranged along the'lengthof the bus bars.

Also, it will be understood, the bus bars may be arranged to extend in ahorizontal direction if desired, instead of in a vertical direction asillustrated.

The construction is moreover such as to provide gutters M and N arrangedtransversely to the ends of the compartments. These gutters may beformed of out side strips 30 and 31 and inner side strips 32 and 33which may be formed with openings adjacent the shelves D to provide forentry of the branch line wires 1t, 2e, and 3e, 12 and 3.

Vithout further analysis, the foregoing' Awill so fully reveal the gistof this invention thatv others can by applying current knowledge readilyadapt it for various applications without omitting certain featuresIthat, from the standpoint of the prior art,

fairly constitute essential' characteristics of the generic or specificaspects of this invention; and, therefore, such adaptations shouldandare intended to be comprehended within the, meaning and range of,equivalency of the 'following claims;

Having thus revealed this invention, I' claim 'as new and desire tosecure the following combinations of elements, or equivalents thereof,by Letters Patent'of the United States e A1. lA switch-board combining a'baseboard; a ist shelf arranged edgewise'to said base-board;branch-line conductors carried by said rst shelf; a second shelfarranged parallel with said base-board; fuseholders mounted von the faceof said second shelf most remote from said base-board; an' elongatedbus-bar extending transversely to said shelves between the same and saidbaseboard; and switch mechanism for establishing connection between thebus-bar and a bus-bars extending between said vbase-board and saidcarrier and transversely to the axis `of the'carrier.; a correspondingnumber ofl fuse-holders mounted on the face of said wall member mostremote from said baseboard; and means for swinging said carrier toestablish electrical connection between the bus-bars and thefuse-holders.

3. A base-board; a first shelf extending parallel therewith and spacedaway therefrom; a second shelf arranged edgewise between said base-boardand said iirst shelf; a bus-bar extending between the' base-board andsaid shelves; a fuse-holder carried byA the first shelf and connectedwith a b-ranch-' line conductor carried by the second shelf; andswitch-mechanism for electrically connecting the fuse-holder with thebus-bar.

4. A base-board; a rst shelf extending parallel therewith and spacedaway there'- from; a second shelf arranged edgewise between saidbase-board and vsaidiirst shelf; a bus-bar extending betweenthebase-board and said shelves; a fuse-holder carried by the first shelfand connected with a branchline conductor carried by the second shelf;

switch-mechanism for electrically connect' ing the fuse-holder with thebus-bar; and a cover connected with said switch-mechanism for inhibitingaccess to the fuse-holder whenever said switch is in its open circuitposition.

5. A switch-board combining an upstanding base-board; a tier ofsuperimposed shelves of insulating material spaced apart and arrangedhorizontally edgewise to the base-board; a plurality of fuse holdersar-l ranged rearward of said shelves and connected with terminalsthereon; ya plurality base-board and said strips; a plurality offuse-holders arranged on the rear vertical face of each strip and havingcontact portions extending to the forward verticalface of saidstrips;switches for connecting said contact portions with said bus bars; and

-means for operating'said switches.

7 A switch-mechanism combining a baseboard, n wall member distanced fromone face of tlie'base-board, a bus-bar extending along said face of thebase-board between the base-board and the wall member, a branchlinecontact extending from said wall meinber toward said base-board, aContact projecting from said bus-bar toward said wall member, aswitch-blade, and means to operate the switch-blade for controlling acircuit between said two contacts. 1

8. A switch mechanism combining a base board, a strip of insulatingmaterial distanced from one faceof the'base board, a bus bar extendingalong the mentioned face of the base board between the base board and Asaid strip of insulating material. a branch line contact extending fromsaid. strip toward said bus bar, a .contact extending from said bus bar,a switch blade, and means at the opposite face of the base board havinga part extending through the base board to operate said switch blade-forcontrolling a circuit-between said contacts.

9. A switchV mechanism combining a base board. ajvall member distancedfrom one .face of the base board, a bus bar extending along said face ofthe base board between the base board and the wall member, a branch lineconductor member projecting from said wall member toward said base boardand providinga. branch line Contact portion in proximity with said busbar, a switchblade arranged within the space between the base board andsaid wall member, and means to ber.

first, a second, and'a'third wall` arranged side by side but spacedapart to provide a switch chamber between the rst and the l second wallsand a fusechamber between the prising a door displaceable to affordaccess, .tothe fuse chamber, a'fuse holder arranged secondy and thirdwalls, the third wall comwithin `the fuse chamber, a switch arrangedwithin the switch chamber, and a switch operating member` arrangedbeyond the first wall connected through said first wall with the switchmechanism to operate the switch mechanism. l

11. A switch mechanism combining a first,

a second, and a third wall arrangedside by side but spaced apart toprovide a switch chamber between the first and the second walls and afuse chamber between the second and third walls, the third wallcomprising. a

door displaceable to afford access to the'fuse chamber, a fuse holderarranged withinthe' fuse chamber, a switch arranged within the swithchamber, a switch operating member arranged beyond-.the first wall beingconnected through said t.first wall with the switch mechanism to operatethe switch `60 one surface of the base board, a bus bar eX-' mechanism,and connections between the switch operating member and the.door of thethird wall toretain the door closed when the switchis on?.

12. A switch mechanism combining a first, a second, and a third wallarranged side byside but spaced apart to providea switch chamber betweenthe first and the second walls anda fuse chamber between the second andthird walls, the third wall comprising a door displaceable to'aford`access to the fuse chamber, a fuse holder arranged within the fusechamber being supported at one surface of the second wall, a switchblade arranged within the switch chamber, a main line conductor enteringthe switch chamber. a branch line conductor arranged.

first wall with the switch blade to operate said switch blade forcontrolling a circuit between said main line conductor and said branchline conductor. y 13. Aswitch mechanism combining a base tending alongthe mentioned surface of the base board between the base b'oard and saidplate, a. branch line wire supporting member at the same side of thebase boardl cX- t5 tending transversely of said bus bar, a fuse 10. Aswitch mechanism combining a holder carried by said plate having oneterminaldisposed adjacent the branch linewlre supporting member and'having its other terminal disposed adjacent the bus bar, andl board, afuse supporting member spaced from one surface of the base board, a busbar extending along the mentioned surface of the base board between thebase board and said fuse supporting member, a branch line wiresupporting member at the same side of the baseboar'd extendingtransversely of said ybus bar, connecti'ngmeans connecting the branchLine -wire supporting member with the fuse supporting member whereby to:support one 'of said members from the otherga fuseholder carried bysaid fuse supporting VAmember having one terminal disposed Vadjacent thebranch line .wire supportF Aing member .and having its other terminalvdisposed adjacent the bus bar, and switch mechanism arranged betweenthe base board vand rsaid fuse supporting member operable to control acircuit between the bus bar'- and the last mentioned fuse terminal.15.'A safety Vswitch comprising a base board, a set of bus bars arrangedin the 4rear material arranged parallel to said base board, fuse holderscarried by vsaid plate spacedfr'om said bus bars, and' a' switchcomprisingfa. set of rotary laminated blades arranged within -the spaceformed between the base board and the plate with means extendinglthroughfthe ing said .switch blades cause each of them to makecontact'betwee'n a bus bar and afuse holder.

ba efboard for rotat-I 16. AA safety switch board comprising first abase board, seconda 'wall member arranged approximately parallel to thebase board and spaced therefrom, and third a shelf arranged edgewisebetween the ybase board and the wal] member, said base board, wallmember and shelf being arranged so a's to collectively` define apartially inclosed space between them, bus bars within said space at'the inner face of the base board, fuse holders carried by said wall'member having contact terminals arranged within said space, terminal`conductors carried by said shelf for connection with the fuse holders, aswitch device also within said space, and means extending through thebase board whereby to operate the switch device to make and breakcontact betweensaid bus bars and said fuse i terminals. f

17. In a safety/switch boa-rd, a-base board,

`a plate of insulating material arranged a proximately arallel to andspaced from t c base board, use holders mounted upon the.

surface of saidA plate remote from the base board but having terminalparts extending through said plate to the surface thereof adjacent thebase board, bus bars mounted upon the surfaceof the `base board facingsaid plate, and a switch device arranged within the space between thebase board and said plate capable of being operated through the baseboard to make and break contact between the bus bars and the fuseterminals.

18. switch board comprising a base board, a bus bar extending along onesurface of the -base board, "a plurality of switches arranged along thelength ofthe bus bar each having 'a blade operable to make and breakcontact with the bus bar at spaced points in the length ofthe bus bar,means to operate the switches, and a guard member arranged to cover andguard the bus bar substantially throughout its length eX- cept in therestricted localities where the tswitch blades require to make contactwith.

19. A switch board comprising a .base board, a plurality of bus Abarsextending along one surface of the base. board, a plurality of switchmechanisms spaced apart. alongv the length ofthe bus bars each havingblades operable to make and break contact with the bus bars at spacedpoints in the length of the bus bars, supporting means for said switchmechanisms arranged to support the switch mechanisms from the baseboard, means extending through the base board to operate the switchmechanisms from the opposite side of the base board, and a guard memberarranged to cover and guard the bus bars substantially throughout theirlength except in the restricted localities where the switch bladesrequire to make 1 contact therewith. I

20. A switch board comprising a base board, a .bus bar extending alongone sur-l switch blades require to make contact therewith, together w1tha plurality of branch line contacts and means to support the same fromthe base board and'in cooperative rela-V tion with said switch blades.

21?. Ansafety switch board comprising a base board, a plurality ofswitch mechanisms arranged at the rear sideof said base board, aplurality of switch operating elements arranged a-t the forward side ofthe base board one for each switch mechanism, means extending throughthe base board to connect the operating elements with the respectivethereswitch mechanisms, and means arranged at the rear side of the boarddefining a plurality of separate compartments upon the rear face of theboard one for each of Said switch mechanisms. 1

22. A safety switch board comprising a base board, a plurality of switchmechanisms arranged at the rear side of said base board, a plurality ofswitch operating elements arranged at the forward side of the base board,one for each switch mechanism, means eX- tending through the base'boardto connect the operating elements with the respective switch mechanisms,means arranged at the rear side of the board defining a plurality ofseparate closed compartments uponthe rear face ofthe board on for eachof said switch mechanisms, and said last mentioned means including adisplaceable door Whereby to afford independent access to the respectivecompartments. y i

23. Arsafety switch board comprising abase board, a plurality'of switchmechanisms arranged at the rear-side of'said base board, a plurality ofswitch operating elements arranged at the forward side of-the base boardone foreach switclrmechanism, means extending through the base boardtoconnect the operating elements with the respective switch. mechanisms,means arranged at the rear side of the board defining a plurality. ofseparate closed compartments upon the rear face of the board one foreach .of said switch 'mechanisms said last mentionedv means includinga'displaceable 'door wherebyto afford independent accessto therespective compartments, and means to retain the doorA of anycompartment closed eX- cept when 4the switch mechanism of thatcompartment is oif.

24. A safety switch `board comprising a basevboard, means at one side ofsaid base board defining a plurality of separate compartments upon saidside of the'i base board,

'a bus bar traversing all of said compartments. a. plurality of switch,mechanisms one within each of said compartments operable to make andbreak Contact with the traversing portion of the bus bar, and means eX-tending to the opposite side of the base board ment having adisplaceable door for giving access thereto, and means extending to theopposite side' of the base board to control both said switch mechanismsand said doors.

26. A safety switch bOai'd comprising a base board, a `switch mechanismat one side of the base board, means Lat the same side of the base boarddefining an inclosure for said switch mechanism and having adisplaceable door to give access to the switch 'mechanism7 and meansextending to the opposite side of the base board to control both saidswitch mechanism and said door.

27. A safetyswitch board comprisinga base board, means at one side ofsaid base board defining a plurality of separate coinpartnients uponsaid side of the base board, a bus bar traversing all of saidcompartments, a plurality of switch mechanisms one within each of saidcompartments operable to make and break contact with a part of thetraversing portion of the bus bar, an insulated guard member within eachcompartment covering and guarding the remainingr part of the traversingportionl of the bus bar, and means to operate said switch mechanisms.

28. A switch board comprising a base boarchabus bar extending along oneside of the fba's'e board, a plurality' of switch mechanisms arranged atthe same side of the base board spaced apart along the length of the busbar, means to operate said switch mechanisms, a plurality of'displaceable guard members also at/the same side of the base board onefor each of said switch mechanisms, and means'to retain said guardmembers against movementout of guarding position when the respectiveswitch mechanism is on. i

29. A safety switch board comprising a base board, a bus bar extendingalong one side of the base board, a plurality of switch mechanismsarranged at-the same side of the base board spaced apart along thelength of the bus bar, a plurality of displaceable guard members also atthe same side of the' base board one for each of said switch mechanisms`and means extending to the. opposite side of the base board beingconnected with said switch mechanisms and with said guard members tooperate said switch mechanisms and to retain said guard members inguarding position when the switch mechanisms of the respective guardmembers are on.

30. A safety switch board comprising a base board, means at one side ofthe base board to define a plurality of compartments upon vsaid side ofthe base board, a bus bar traversing said'compartments,'a switch bladein each compartment, a branch-line terminal also ineach compartment, a'branch-line'u wire supporting member also 1n each com-- partment adaptedto support a branch-line wire which may extend into each compartment forelectrical connection with said branch-line, contact, and aswitch-operating handle for each compartment being arranged at theopposite side 'of the base-board and being connected through thebase-board to operate the switch-blade of the respective compartment formaking and' breaking a circuit between the bus-bar and the branchlinecontact of that compartment.

31. A switch mechanism combining a base-board, a partition arranged atone surface of the base-board dividing said surface so as t0 define awire-receiving space at one side of said partition and a switchreceivingspace at the other side of said 'partition, a wall member arrangedwithin the switch-receiving space spaced from the nientioned surface ofthe base-board,main-line contacts also arranged within saidswitchreceiving space, fuse-clips arranged in a p0- sition ofaccessibility being carried by said wall member upon the face thereoi:lremote from said base-board, a switch arranged in a protected positionof relative inaccesibility in the space between'saidA wall member andthe base-board, means whereby the switch may control a circuit betweensaid main-line contacts and said fuse-clips, and said -wirereceivingspace being adapted to receive wires extending therealong and throughsaid Apartition into connection with said fusethe switch blade, andponeof each pair of said contacts comprising a part which pro- ]ectslaterally from the bus bar and which has a surface portion disposed atan angle vto the adjacent surface of the bus bar for receiving pressurefrom the switch blade.

33. A switch mechanism comprising a casing having a wall part pivotallyconnected to form a door opening into the interior of the casing, thecombination therewith of a quick break type switch mechanism arrangedwithin the casing, and connections extending between the switchmechanism and lthe door operable to eiiect quick break movement of theswitch mechanism by opening of: the door, said connections including apart having a slot therein, and a member having a pin slidable alongsaid Slot, said part being movable by movement of the door to cause theend wall of the slot to engage said pin for starting the oi movement ofthe switch mechanism when'the door is opened, and said slot beingarranged to accommodate continued movement of said pin as said switchmechanism continues its quick break action.

34. A switch mechanism comprising a casing having a wall part pivotallylconnected to form a door opening into the interior of the casing, thecombination therellO - opening movement of the door, and said v with ofa swith blade arranged within the casing movable into on and oil'positions, means urging the switch blade into 0H position, toggle partsarranged to stand in a straightened position for holding 'the switchblade on and to permit movement ofthe switch blade off when the toggleis broken, and connections extending between said toggle. parts and thedoor operable to break the toggle by opening movement of the door, saidconnections including a memberV 'movable with the door'and having asurface portion disposed t0 engage a part movable with the toggle tobreak the toggle by the initial connections providing anunobstructed-space whereby to permit full broken movement of the togglewithout further opening movenient of'the door.

35. A safety switch board comprising a plurality of switch mechanisms,one protecting wall member extending common to all of said switchmechanisms, a plurality of independent wall sections one'for'each ofsaid switch mechanisms arrangedto Complete a protecting wall for theswitch mechanisms at thck side opposite said mentioned wall member,independent operating'means for each of the switch mechanisms, meanswhereby said mentioned wall sections are independentlyl displaceable,and means for preventing displacement of said displaceable wall sectionsexcept when `the respective switch mechanisms are oft `36A. safetyswitch board comprising aplurality of fuse clip supporting plates, fuseclips carried by 'said plates at one side thereof, vswitch contactselectrically connec'ted with said fuse clips, a plurality of switchesone for each of said plates operable to move into and out of engagementwith the switch contacts, bus bars extending common to said switches,means to operate said switches, and a guard wall standing to guard saidfuse clips collectively, said guard Wall comprising a plurality ofdisplaceable doors one for each of -said fuse clipsupportl A37.A Asafety switch board comprising a plurality of fuse clip supportingplates, fuse 4said switches, a guard wall standing -to| guard -said fuseclips collectively, said guard wall comprising a plurality ofdisplaceable dofrs one for each of said fusecl'ip supporting plates, andmeans to prevent displacement of said doors when the respective switchesare on of, switch contacts electrically connected with said fuse clips,a pluralityY of switches one for eac'h of said lplates operable to movecontacts of the respective plates, said switches being arranged at theopposite side of the fuse clip supporting plates, means to operatesaidsw-itches, a guard wall standing to guard said switchescollectively, and a second guard'A wall standing to guard said fuseclips. collectively, said second 'guard wall comprising' a plurality ofdisplaceable doors one 'for each of said fuse clip supporting plates.

39. A safety switch board comprising a plurality of fuse clipssupporting plates, fuse clips carried by said plates at one side thereofswitchl contacts electrically A connected with said fuse clips, aplurality of switches one for each of said plates operable to move intoand out of engagement with the switch contacts of the respective plates,said switches being arranged at the opposite side of the fuse clipsupporting' plates, means to operate said switches, a guard wallstanding to guard said switches collectively, a second guard wallstanding to guard said fuse clips collectively, said second guard wallcomprising a plurality of displaceable doors one for each of said fuseclip supporting plates, and

-. with said fuse clips, a plurality of switches one for each-of saidplatesoperable to move into and out of engagement with the switchcontacts of the respective plates, said switches being arranged atV theopposite side of the fuse clip supporting` plates, a guard wall standingto guardsaid switches collectively, a second guard wall standing toguard said fuse clips collectively, said second guard wall comprising aplurality of displaceable doors one for each of said fuse clipsupporting plates ;`and a plurality bf independently operable switchoperating elements one lfor each of said switches, said switch.operating elements extending' to a position of accessibility beyond thefirst mentioned guard wall.

41. A safety switch board mechanism comprisinga switch blade movableinto on and off positions, and toggle'parts of a character to stand in astraightened position for holding the switch blade on and to permitmovement of the switch blade oi'i' when the toggle is broken, a guardwall into and out of engagement with the-'switch vconnections betweenthe switches and the l standing to guard said switch mechanism andhaving an opening therethrough, an operating handle for the switchmechanism in `a position of accessibility beyond said guard wall, .aconnectingl member longitudinally slidable within said opening engagingtheoperating handle and en aging one of the toggle parts and beingshdable by said handle to straighten or break'the toggle, a lsecondguard wallspaced from the rst guard wall, and the switch blade andtoggle parts being arranged between the two guard walls.

42. A Vsafety switch board mechanism comprising a plurality of switches,a protecting wall standing to protect all of said switches at one sidethereof, each of said switches including toggle parts movable intostraightened and broken positions,'op erating 'means for the togglesextending through openings in one of `said walls for independent manualoperation of the switches from beyond said mentioned wall, a plural-`ity of other guard members one for each` ofi said switches, said lastmentioned guard members being independentlydisplaceable,

and means to prevent displacement of said last mentioned guard memberswhile the ref spective switches are on 43. A safety switch boardmechanism ,comprising a plurality of switches, means .forming a pair ofconductor-carrying gutters spaced apart 'one at each side,.of saidswitches so as to providel a'protected area within which the switchesare arranged, ea`ch of said vswitches having a part associated therewithrequiring to be vprotected and to which access is desired, independentlydisplaceable guard members for said mentioned switch parts,'and means toprevent displacement of said guard members while the respective switchesare on 44. A safety switch board mechanism comprising a pair of wallmembers spaced apart,

a plurality of switches arrangedbetween said wall members, means alsoarranged between said wall members u on which said switches are mounted,each o said switches having a part associated therewith requiring to beprotected and to which access is desired, a plurality of separatelydisplaceable guard members one for each of said mentioned switch parts,and means to retain the guard members against displacement when therespective switches are on 1 e 45. A safety switch board mechanismincludin a plurality of switches, a protectin wa l for said switchescomprising a plura ity'of independently displaceable vdoors one for eachof said switches, fuse retaining vwhen the respective doors are open,said supporting means b'emg arranged intermediate the fuse retainingparts and the respective switches and .being of a character to guard theswitches when the doors are displaced, and means to'prevent displacementof the doors while the respective switches are on.

47. A safetyfswitch' board mechanism in- 'cluding a plurality ofswitches, a protecting vwall for said switches comprising a plurality ofindependently displaceable doors one for eachof Vsaid switches, fuseretaining parts associated with said switches, supporting means for saidfuse retaining parts spaced behind said doors and arrangedto sup ortsaid fuse retaining parts in a position o? accessibility when therespective doors are open, said supporting means being arrangedintermediate the fuse retaining parts and the respective switchesandbeing of .a character to .guard the switches .when the doors aredisplaced, independent operatin means' for vthe switches, and eachv osaid doors having l parts thereof disposed to engage the switchoperating means so that opening movement of the doors will insure offmovement of 10 the respective switches.l

48. A safety switch board mechanism in- -cluding a plurality ofswitches, a protecting wall for said switches comprising a plurality ofindependently displaceable doors one for each `offsaid switches,conductors eX- tending common tosaid switches, fuse retaining parts andbranch line contacts associatedv with 'said switches, and ,supportingmeans for lsaid fusel retaining 1parts and 115 branch line ,contactslspaced intermediate said doors and said switches and supporting saidfuse retaining parts at its side adjacent the door and supporting saidbranch linecontacts at its. side remotefrom th'edoor, 120l saidsupportin means constituting barriers between said oors and saidswitches.

, 49. -A safety switch board including a lurality ofswitches,a.container for inclos-l ing said switches. collectively, meanswherebythe switches are independently operable;

one wall of said container comprising a plurality of independentlydisplaceable sections one for each of said switches, and means to insureolf movement of the 5 tectiiig wall member extending common to all ofsaid switch mechanisms and upon which said switch mechanisms aremounted, means also mounted upon said wall member independentJ of theswitch mountings forinl ing a plurality of independent. compartments onefor each switch mechanism and having doors for giving independentaccessto said compartments, and unitary means for cont-rolling both said doorsand said l switch mechanisms.

5l. A safety switch board comprising `a base board, a bus bar extendingalong one side of the base board, means defining a plurality of separateclosable compartments at said side of the base board arranged with thebus bar traversing all of said compartments,

a plurality of switch mechanisms one within each of said compartmentsarranged to engage and disengage the traversing portion of the bus fbar,and means to operate said switch mechanisms when the compartments areclosed.

52. A safety switch board Comprising a base board, a bus bar extendingalong one side of the base board, means defining a plurality of separateclosable compartments at said side Vof the base board, the bus bar beingyarranged to traverse said compartments, a plurality'of switch mechanismone within each of said ,compartments arranged to engage aiid disengagethe traversing portion of the bus bar, and means for operating therespective switch mechanisms when the coinpartmeiits are closed, saidoperating means being arranged within the compartments, and operablefrom the exterior of the compartinents. A

53. AA safety switch board mechanism includinga plurality of switches,`apair of protecting wall members one at each side of said 'switchescollectively, .means whereby said switches are iiidependentlyxoperable,one of said protecting wall members comprising a plurality ofindependently displaceable sections one for each of said switches, andmeans to prevent operation of said switches when the respective wallsections are displaced.

54. A safety switch board comprising a base board, a plurality of switchmechanisms at one side of the base board, operatingmeans for' saidswitch mechanisms, means forming separate containers for the respec-Vtive switch mechanisms, and means forming a gutter adjacent saidcontainers rfor thereception of lead wires, the last mentioned meanscomprising a portion of said container forming means, there beingopenings communicating between saidv containers and said gutter for the.passage of lead wires to the respective switch mechanisms.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name as attested by the twosubscribing witnesses.

HUBERT F. K RANTZ.

